Black teens from Great Recession may have higher risk factors for heart disease, diabetes

Journal of the American Heart Association Report

Dallas, TX – African-American teens who lived through the Great Recession of 2007-2009 may have higher risk of metabolic syndrome, a common cluster of risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

Researchers studied 328 African-Americans who had experienced the Great Recession of 2007-2009 as 16- and 17-year-olds living in nine rural counties in Georgia with high poverty rates and high rates of death from cardiovascular disease.

[Read more]

Haslam, Barnes Announce Plans To Reform Welfare Programs to Encourage Self-Sufficiency And Program Integrity

SNAP Work Requirements to be Reestablished in 70 Counties beginning February 1st, Proposed Legislation Will Incentivize Work and Help Families Avoid “Fiscal Cliff”

Nashville, TN – Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Danielle W. Barnes today announced plans to reinstate the federal work requirement for able-bodied adults without dependents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that was waived in 2008 during the economic recession.

With the state’s record low unemployment rates and significant job growth, the waiver is no longer needed across most of the state – but will remain in place in 16 counties designated as economically distressed. 

[Read more]

AAA says Oil Prices reach Lowest Price since The Great Recession

4th quarter Gas prices could average $2.11

Tampa, FL – The price of oil is on its longest weekly slump of the year, after reaching the lowest closing price since the ‘Great Recession’. This continues to put downward pressure on the price of gasoline, which dropped another 2 cents last week in the southeastern U.S.

“There continues to be a surplus amount of oil in the global market which is expected to keep prices of both oil and gasoline on the low end through the rest of this year,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Gas prices did not fall as fast last week as they have in recent weeks, but that is to be expected because we are still in the middle of the peak driving season. Gas prices should fall even faster in the fall when school is back in session.”

[Read more]

AAA reports Cheapest Holiday Gas Prices in Six Years

Tampa, FL – Motorists traveling for the year-end holidays saw the cheapest Christmas day gasoline since 2008. The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded was $2.43 in Florida, $2.32 in Georgia, and $2.18 in Tennessee. These prices broke the previous lows set in 2009 of $2.63 in Florida, $2.44 in Georgia, and 2.45 in Tennessee.

“Low gas prices are helping consumers save more than $21.00 for a tank of gasoline compared to the highs earlier this year ($3.70), and that has a positive effect on holiday shopping and travel,” said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA – The Auto Club Group. “The new year will bring new expectations for even cheaper gasoline. Prices could drop another 3-6 cents by New Year’s Day.” [Read more]

Consumer Reports Survey Finds Consumers are ready to Spend again

Seven years after the Great Recession, consumers are finally opening their wallets, making long-delayed purchases and undertaking postponed life decisions

Yonkers, NY – The Great Recession of 2007 caused the once-prolific American shopper to go into a prolonged scrimp mode. Now, some seven years later – and more than 5 years after the recession officially ended — the tide has turned, according to a groundbreaking Consumer Reports study.

A nationally representative survey of 1,006 adult Americans conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center revealed that people are now in the market for major purchases like homes, cars, and appliances – and that they plan to spend even more money in the coming year. [Read more]